Wellness as a Corporate Value
Hello, this is Takahiro Ichiki from Sync Logistics.
In recent years, the concept of “Health and Productivity Management,” as advocated by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), has gained significant traction. Today, managing employee health is no longer just a matter of individual responsibility—it has become a critical component of corporate management.
In this blog post, I’d like to share some of my thoughts on health, as well as the initiatives we’ve implemented at Sync Logistics to support our employees’ well-being.
■ A Personal Wake-Up Call: My Father’s Illness
My awareness of health began over a decade ago, when my father suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. Until then, he had been a powerful presence in my life—someone who enjoyed drinking and smoking and seemed full of energy. But after his illness, I witnessed firsthand how drastically a person’s health can affect not only their ability to work but also their daily life.
Seeing those changes up close made me realize how easy it is to take health for granted, and just how precious it truly is. Since then, I’ve quit smoking myself and make an effort to work out, whether it’s through weekly golf outings or regular workouts at the gym.
■Health Initiatives at Our Company
I have also seen firsthand how employee health is closely tied to job performance. At Sync Logistics, I regard the well-being of our employees as a foundational element of sound business operations.
As part of my efforts to monitor the well-being of our team, I make it a point to observe their physical and mental condition during our monthly online “Morning Gathering,” which we hold via Zoom for all staff.
We ask every employee to join remotely with their cameras on, because I’ve found that even their tiny body actions, such as a yawn and winks, can provide me great insight of their state of mind
As a company, we have also introduced several welfare programs aimed at enhancing employee health.
For example, we offer a “Non-Smoking Incentive” to encourage smoking cessation. We also provide subsidies for comprehensive medical check-ups (known as ningen dock in Japan) every two years, in addition to the standard annual health check-ups required by law. Furthermore, we offer reimbursement for the use of sports and fitness facilities as part of our broader wellness support.
Health consciousness varies from person to person, but for me, it starts with maintaining my own condition and leading by example.
It’s helping every employee reach their full potential that I hope we can achieve by fostering a workplace culture where health is valued.
Thank you for reading.
